Antetokounmpo confronted by teammate’s father after Pacers eliminate Bucks in NBA playoffs

Milwaukee Bucks guardant Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, is separated from Indiana Pacers players guardant Obi Toppin, 2nd from right, and defender Bennedict Mathurin, right, aft Game 5 of an NBA hoops first-round playoff bid successful Indianapolis, Tuesday. [Michael Conroy/AP Photo]

Pacers defender Tyrese Haliburton was so excited astir Indiana’s improbable overtime rally that helium didn’t recognize what led to the postgame scuffle betwixt his teammates and the Milwaukee Bucks connected Tuesday night.

Then helium got to the locker room, watched the replay and winced when helium saw his father, John, connected the court, confronting two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I had nary thought it happened until I got backmost to the locker country and they showed maine the video of my pops,” the two-time All-Star said aft helium made the decisive layup with 1.3 seconds near to springiness Indiana a 119-118 victory and a 4-1 bid win. “We had a small talk astir it. I don’t hold with what transpired there. I think hoops is hoops and let’s support it connected the court. I think helium conscionable got excited.”

Antetokounmpo wasn’t pleased, either, aft his team blew a seven-point pb successful the last 40 seconds of overtime, sending the Bucks to their third straight first-round exit. The two-time MVP didn’t admit John Haliburton, thinking helium was conscionable different instrumentality who had tally onto the court.

Antetokounmpo said helium likes Haliburton, calling him a large competitor, but helium said John Haliburton displaying a towel with his son’s representation while yelling “this is what we (expletive) do” was wrong.

“I consciousness similar that’s very, very disrespectful,” said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists.

Haliburton seemed genuinely upset astir the incident, promising to scope retired to Antetokounmpo earlier the teams play again.

“I’ll talk to Giannis astir it eventually,” said Haliburton, who grew up successful Oshkosh, Wisconsin. “I don’t think my pops was successful the close astatine each there. It’s unfortunate what happened astatine the extremity there.

“It’s unfortunate what happened there (the scuffle), but I think it’s conscionable competition,” helium added. “As acold arsenic my pops, I don’t hold with what happened there. We’ll person a conversation.”

Antetokounmpo told a story astir the Bucks’ 2020-21 title season, when his parent attended each crippled from mid-February done the title run. The Greek superstar said his ma wasn’t adjacent sure whether she could travel onto the tribunal to hug him astatine the extremity of the last crippled and noted that his household members typically don’t sit courtside.

The Pacers and Bucks person met 20 times implicit the past two seasons, with the Pacers winning 8 11 playoff games and some postseason bid successful an progressively heated rivalry.

Meanwhile, Damian Lillard’s devastating Achilles wounded could person long-lasting implications that interaction the Milwaukee Bucks acold beyond what looks similar different first-round exit from the NBA Playoffs.

It could besides usher successful the departure of superstar Antetokounmpo.

The 34-year-old Lillard, who suffered a near Achilles wounded successful Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers connected Sunday, could miss astir oregon each of adjacent season. That would marque him 35 oregon 36 when he’s capable to instrumentality to the tribunal – which complicates matters for a Bucks team already coping with property and roster issues.

Lillard was acquired from Portland successful 2023 to brace with Antetokounmpo. He had signed a two-year, $122 cardinal hold the erstwhile year that has yet to footwear in. Lillard will marque astir $54 cardinal adjacent play and has a $58 cardinal subordinate enactment for the 2026-27 season.

Meanwhile, dealing Khris Middleton successful February for 29-year-old Kyle Kuzma has not worked retired arsenic planned. Milwaukee is down 3-1 to Indiana and faces its third consecutive first-round exit arsenic aboriginal arsenic Tuesday night.

Rumors person been percolating for months that nine-time All-Star Antetokounmpo sees the writing connected the wall and whitethorn space for a trade this offseason. The 30-year-old guardant will beryllium without his co-star for an unknown magnitude of time, and the Bucks person small flexibility to amended their aging roster.

That has prompted astatine slightest 1 sportsbook to connection likelihood connected which team Antetokounmpo will suit up for successful the 2025-26 play if not Milwaukee. [AP, Reuters]